A pretty comprehensive recap of 2017 A3C Festival & Conference from Victor Sledge and Jalen Jenkins of The Signal.
A3CATGSU
The A3C Festival kicked off on Wednesday night with Georgia State’s Panther Entertainment Grouphosting a lineup that set the bar high for the rest of festival for students and non students alike. A3CatGSU showcased the talents of young entertainers within the Georgia State community on the Squarespace Discovery Stage at Mammal Gallery.
Starting off with a bang
The weekend definitely brought the music but it also brought something for those who attended to see something other than a concert. Conferences for public relations advice, meet and greets and insider information from professionals were just some of the options for those seeking advice for the industry they want to be a part of.
The side shows ended up being just as hype as the main events. Saturday’s big side event was internet legend and one of hip hop’s strangest and influential character, Lil B, who performed at the Masquerade with some other hip openers. Lil Pump, Ski Mask the Slump God and Lil Xan, helped fill the Heaven stage for a show to like no other, especially when Lil Pump brought out one of rap’s hottest stars, and Atlanta native, Lil Yatchy.
A3C’s Closing Performances
The rain could not drown out the party on the last day of A3C. After four days of melting into Atlanta and the hip-hop, A3C would go out with an unforgettable line-up. “Spinrilla Sunday” hosted performances throughout the afternoon, leading to the night’s main closing acts outside on the Toyota Music Main Stage.
It started out with a DJ set that led into sets by artists like Kool Keith, Masta Ace and closed out with AZ. As festival-goers enjoyed the music, they could also go outside to different tents and vendors. They could take a rest with good food and a drink as you peruse the art or merchandise vendors. After the Spinrilla House reached its finale of the evening, the Main Stage kept the party going with their acts including Dave East, Just Blaze, and rap legend, Nas.
Business-Minded Creatives
A3C wasn’t just all music and partying. Some well-respected producers, radio/T.V. personalities and industry experts spent a lot of time at discussions to help educate the next generation of hip-hop moguls on the intricacies of the business side of music.
The Creator Complex, for example, was the brainchild of A3C and Georgia State. It was a safe space for young artists and producers to go collaborate and learn from each other and professionals to help jumpstart their hip-hop empire.
Free of charge, people were able to take a headshot, write an effective bio, construct a website and record music with peers trying to reach the same goals as them, all in one place. Aside from making music, the Creator Complex helped with the branding and public relations side of the industry, which many artists have to navigate alone.
A3C *Drops Mic* Until Next Year
A3C 2017 brought out the best of Atlanta’s hip-hop roots. The line-up for the whole event was a music lover’s dream. Then, to have such a good set of performers and practical informational sessions to help aspiring artists and producers made it all the better.
With the strong music scene in Atlanta, it’s great to see A3C willing to help music newcomers start thinking about how they can expand their brand into a successful career in the future. The networking and tips that young people were able to gain during the festival were almost more exciting than the performers. Almost.
As this generation of legends start pushing their pens and hitting the studio, 2018’s A3C Festival may not even be ready for the talent that’s sure to come when it returns.
